Sep 10 Election hacks raise fears of Russian influence By Deb Riechmann, Associated Press Recent hacks of election data systems in at least two states have raised fear among lawmakers and intelligence officials over hackers with Russian ties. Continue reading
Sep 08 British official criticizes UN peacekeepers for sexual abuse By Robert Burns, Associated Press LONDON — British Defense Minister Michael Fallon says sexual exploitation by U.N. peacekeepers must be eliminated. Continue reading
Sep 07 Ash Carter accuses Russia of sowing global instability By Robert Burns, Associated Press U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter questioned whether Moscow genuinely wants a viable cease-fire in Syria. Continue reading
Aug 29 Watch 4:28 News Wrap: U.S. tells Turkey to focus attacks on ISIS, not Kurds, in Syria By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Monday, top American officials accused Turkey of focusing on Kurdish groups in their military campaign against Syria, instead of on ISIS. Also, in Yemen, a suicide truck bomb tore into a gathering of military recruits, leaving… Continue watching
Jul 20 Defense, foreign ministers to plan next steps against Islamic State By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Defense and foreign ministers from more than 30 nations are gathering in Washington to plan the next steps in the fight against the Islamic State. Continue reading
Jul 11 U.S. sending 560 more troops to Iraq as Mosul push intensifies By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press BAGHDAD — The United States will send 560 more troops to Iraq to transform a freshly retaken air base into a staging hub for the long-awaited battle to recapture Mosul from Islamic State militants, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Monday. Continue reading
Jun 30 Watch 3:21 How will lifting the ban on transgender soldiers affect the military? By PBS News Hour The Pentagon has lifted its ban on transgender troops. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced the move Thursday and officials said health services for trans soldiers, including sexual reassignment surgery, will be covered in 90 days. Of the military’s 1.5 million… Continue watching
May 13 China has reclaimed 3,200 acres in South China Sea, Pentagon says By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A new Pentagon report says China has reclaimed more than 3,200 acres of land in the southeastern South China Sea. But the country's focus has shifted to developing and weaponizing those man-made islands. Continue reading
May 04 Navy SEAL killed in Iraq was part of rescue team By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — A Navy SEAL killed during a firefight in Iraq was part of a quick reaction force that moved in to rescue U.S. military advisers from an Islamic State attack, the Pentagon said Wednesday. Continue reading
May 03 Defense secretary accuses Russia of ‘nuclear saber-rattling’ By Robert Burns, Associated Press STUTTGART, Germany — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter blasted what the U.S. and its allies see as Russian aggression in Europe, saying Tuesday that Moscow is "going backward in time" with warlike actions. Continue reading